AFP is still verifying floaters found off Zambales’ waters -- Palace

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 30): AFP is still verifying floaters found off Zambales’ waters -- Palace

Malacanang on Thursday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is still verifying the floaters reportedly found off Zambales' waters near the West Philippine Sea.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the AFP is also confirming the statement of Justice Antonio Carpio that China is actually dredging in 10 other reefs as part of China’s massive reclamation in the WPS.

Coloma said if proven that China is dredging 10 more reefs, the information could be used to boost the Philippines’ case against China’s reclamation in the disputed territories.

”If it will be verified, this will serve as additional information that we can cite in our petition in the Arbitral Tribunal of the United Nation because there are activities that manifest violations on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Coloma said.

According to the reports, the interlinked buoys and metal pipes were discovered in Zambales’ waters last week.

Experts described the pipes as dredge floater assembly attached to a dredging machine while sucking up sand from the sea bottom.

Recently, the Philippines defended its case against China when a strong delegation attended the hearings on the jurisdiction and admissibility of the Philippines’ petition over the Spratlys in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Philippines is asking the tribunal to define maritime entitlements under the UNCLOS which, the Philippines claims, has jurisdiction on the protest against China’s massive reclamation in the WPS.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=787994